What is a Bare Trust?
Trusts can help to ensure that the right people inherit your wealth in accordance with your wishes. There are also certain types of trust that can be used during the course of your own lifetime so as to help your loved ones with things like educational fees and care costs. Whilst you should always seek […]
Council Tax on Empty Property (Do You Have to Pay?)
If you own an empty property, you may be wondering if you have to pay council tax on it. For homeowners and renters, council tax rules can be difficult to understand, with various bands and rates for different types of property, and discounts and exemptions available in certain limited circumstances. But failure to pay your […]
New Aviation Passenger Charter to Make Consumer Rights Clear
A new Aviation Passenger Charter has been announced by the UK Government in an effort to improve consumer awareness of travel rights. With passengers expected to face continued travel disruption this summer, the charter is intended to help passengers with issues such as flight delays and cancellations. The charter will act as a ‘one-stop shop’ […]
Return to work policy & procedure guide
If an employee has been absent from work through either illness or injury, especially for a prolonged period of time, it can take them a while to readjust on their return. In some cases, a number of changes may first need to be made to their working arrangements or working environment to help facilitate their […]
UK Takeover Code
The conduct of takeovers and mergers of UK public companies — and, in certain cases, private companies — is regulated by the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the ‘Takeover Code’). Issued and administered by the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers (the ‘Panel’), the Takeover Code or City Code embodies the principles and rules in […]
Can you sack someone for watching porn at work?
Would you know what to do if one of your employees is caught watching porn at work? HR and line managers should be prepared to deal with the issue as soon as you become aware of it, or you could face legal risks and damage to workforce morale and relations. This means taking a considered approach, ensuring […]
Additional £1 Million Funding For Legal Aid Services
Charities and organisations that offer legal aid are set to receive an addition £1 million from the government this financial year. This takes the amount awarded for legal aid funding to £4 million, up from £3 million in previous years. The grants are used to enable eligible individuals to access legal advice without having to […]
Employing Ukrainian nationals
The UK Government has provided guidance for UK businesses employing Ukrainian nationals who have fled their country. In this guide for employers, we detail the rules you’ll need to follow when hiring Ukrainian refugees. This includes completion of vacancy information questionnaires, the process to be followed when offering work to Ukrainian refugees, clarification of Ukrainian […]
Sale and Purchase Agreement
Sale and purchase agreements are crucial documents when it comes to selling a company or company stock, or any other high value business assets. Ensuring that the agreement reflects and protects your business interests, as either a buyer or seller, is paramount to a smooth and successful outcome. Below we look at what these types […]
Heads of Terms Agreement
When selling or buying a business or corporate entity, or entering into any other complex sales transaction, the sale process will typically involve several stages, including preparation of agreed Heads of Terms. In this guide, we explain what a Heads of Terms Agreement is, and when and why these types of agreements are used. We […]
New Bill to Safeguard Fair Pay for Seafarers
A new bill has been introduced in the UK to guarantee that sailors receive pay at least equal to the National Minimum Wage. From 6 July, 2022, the Seafarers’ Wages Bill brings in new pay protection intended to prevent businesses from relying on lawful excuses to pay low wages and from underpaying seafarers who routinely visit […]
Rules for Using CCTV Evidence at Disciplinary
Some employers may be surprised to discover that video footage captured by CCTV can constitute personal data under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This means that there are certain rules that must be followed when processing this data, especially in the context of using this footage as evidence of an employee’s misconduct. The following […]
Advice for Managers Facing a Grievance
It is not uncommon for staff to raise a grievance about their managers, in some cases without just cause, although the employer will still be duty bound to fully investigate any formal complaint. It is therefore important for managers to know their own employment rights in these circumstances, not only to help minimise the potential […]
What is a Patent?
The law provides a number of ways for people to protect their intellectual property. With your IP protected, you can fully capitalise on the commercial potential your invention or idea, while preventing exploitation from others. Patents are one such type of intellectual property protection. In this guide, we outline what a patent is, what is […]
Home Office Faces Legal Challenge Over Post-Brexit EU Citizens’ Rights
The UK Home Office is facing legal action brought by a statutory body established to oversee the rights of EU citizens in the UK after Brexit. The Independent Monitoring Authority (IMA) has made an application to the High Court to challenge the decision by the Home Office to take away the rights of EU nationals […]
Calcultating final pay when someone leaves a job
Calculating final pay when someone leaves a job Employee final pay is the final pay packet paid by an employer to an employee when that employee is leaving their employment. A calculation of such pay should consider the terms of the employee’s employment contract and circumstances of employment, as well as statutory law. This employee […]
Redundancy Matrix & Selection Criteria
The redundancy process is fraught with legal risk. To avoid potential unfair dismissal claims, employers are required to follow a lawful process at each stage, including the redundancy selection procedure. Redundancy selection procedure Provided there is a genuine redundancy situation, the first stage will be to consult with affected employees. This will involve ascertaining if […]
Why managers need to be hot on gossip in the workplace
Why managers need to be hot on gossip in the workplace Gossiping at work may be intended as harmless among co-workers, but it has the potential to negatively impact working relations and workplace culture overall. In this guide for employers and managers, we look at what the law says on workplace gossip, and how gossiping […]
Defendant Told to Represent Herself at Court in Legal First
A woman accused of tampering with evidence in a murder trial has been told she must defend herself in court because there are no criminal defence barristers available. In what is believed to be a legal first, the defendant, Elishah Anderson, has now been instructed by Judge Peter Rook QC to defend herself. The trial, being held […]
Homes for Ukraine: UK Local Sponsorship Scheme
The UK government has confirmed it is changing the rules under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme to allow children and minors under the age of 18 who have already made applications to travel to the UK unaccompanied. The change comes three months after the scheme was launched in March 2022. Guidance on the government website […]